Updated September 2026
King Saul’s family can be difficult to reconstruct. First Samuel and 1 Chronicles sometimes use different names for the same person, omit generations, or describe family relationships differently. This chart brings those references together into one probable family tree.
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Why do Saul’s Genealogies Seem Different?
The principal accounts of Saul’s family appear in 1 Samuel 9:1–2; 1 Samuel 14:49–52; 1 Chronicles 8:29–40; and 1 Chronicles 9:35–44. When we compare them, several apparent differences emerge.
Biblical genealogies sometimes skip generations
Ancient genealogies did not always name every generation. A man could be called the “son” of a prominent ancestor even when he was actually a grandson or later descendant. The purpose was often to establish a family line rather than provide a complete modern genealogy.
For example, 1 Samuel 9:1 traces Kish through Abiel, Zeror, Becorath, and Aphiah. Yet 1 Chronicles focuses on a shorter section of the family and gives the line as Ner, Kish, and Saul.
Kish and Ner present the greatest difficulty
1 Samuel 14:50–51 appears to identify Kish, Saul’s father, and Ner, Abner’s father, as sons of Abiel. That would make Kish and Ner brothers.
However, 1 Chronicles 8:33 and 9:39 explicitly give this sequence:
Ner → Kish → Saul
The same chapters also mention another Kish among the sons of Jeiel (1 Chronicles 8:30; 9:36). Therefore, Saul’s extended family probably included two men named Kish:
- Kish, the brother of Ner
- Kish, the son of Ner and father of Saul
The chart follows the explicit sequence in Chronicles and understands the account in Samuel as a shortened genealogy. The identification of Jeiel with Abiel is possible, but Scripture does not state it directly. For that reason, the reconstruction should be considered probable rather than certain.
The same person may have more than one name
Several members of Saul’s family appear under different names:
| Name in Samuel | Name in Chronicles | Identification |
|---|---|---|
| Ishvi | Abinadab | Probably the same son of Saul |
| Ish-bosheth | Eshbaal | Saul’s surviving son who ruled after Saul’s death |
| Mephibosheth | Merib-baal | Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson |
The substitution of bosheth, meaning “shame,” for the element baal may reflect the later disgrace associated with the name Baal. Chronicles generally preserves the names containing baal, while Samuel uses the substituted forms.
Names were frequently repeated
Like families today, biblical families sometimes gave the same name to more than one relative. Saul’s family apparently included two men named Kish and two men named Mephibosheth.
Recognizing repeated names, alternate names, and skipped generations helps explain why the accounts initially appear to disagree.
Saul’s Ancestors
The following reconstruction combines the information in 1 Samuel and 1 Chronicles:
Saul's Parents & Grandparents
- Jeiel, also called Abiel, lived in Gibeon and was married to Maacah (1 Chronicles 8:29; 9:35).
- Abiel/Jeiel and his wife, Maacah, had 10 sons including Kish & Ner (1 Chronicles 9:35-44; 1 Chronicles 8:29-34).
- Ner fathered Kish & Abner (1 Chronicles 9:39; 1 Samuel 14:49-52).
- Kish fathered Saul (1 Chronicles 9:35-44; 1 Chronicles 8:29-34; 1 Samuel 14:49-52).
- Uncle Abner, son of Ner (1 Samuel 14:50-51).
Saul's Wives & Children
Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz (1 Samuel 14:50). Saul and Ahinoam had at least six children(1 Chronicles 9:39; 1 Samuel 14:49):
- Jonathan
- Ishvi (Abinadab)
- Malchi-Shua
- Ish-bosheth (Esbaal)
- Merab (daughter)
- Michal (daughter; David’s wife)
Saul also had a concubine named Rizpah, who bore him two sons ((2 Samuel 3:7; 2 Samuel 21:8):
- Armoni
- Mephibosheth
This Mephibosheth should not be confused with Jonathan’s son of the same name, Saul's grandson Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan (2 Samuel 21:7)
Who’s Who in Saul’s Family?
Jonathan
Jonathan was Saul’s eldest son, a courageous warrior, and David’s closest friend. Although Jonathan was the expected heir to Saul’s throne, he recognized that God had chosen David to be king. Jonathan died with Saul at Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 18:1–4; 20:12–17; 31:2).
Michal
Michal was Saul’s younger daughter and David’s first wife. She loved David and helped him escape when Saul tried to kill him. Saul later gave her to another man, but David reclaimed her after becoming king (1 Samuel 18:20–29; 19:11–17; 2 Samuel 3:13–16).
Ish-bosheth
Ish-bosheth, called Eshbaal in Chronicles, was one of Saul’s sons. After Saul’s death, Abner made Ish-bosheth king over much of Israel while David ruled Judah. His weak kingdom lasted two years before he was assassinated (2 Samuel 2:8–10; 4:5–12).
Abner
Abner was Saul’s cousin or uncle, depending on how the genealogical references are understood, and the commander of Saul’s army. After Saul died, Abner supported Ish-bosheth. He later attempted to transfer his allegiance to David but was murdered by Joab (1 Samuel 14:50–51; 2 Samuel 2–3).
Rizpah
Rizpah was Saul’s concubine and the mother of Armoni and Mephibosheth. After her sons were executed because of Saul’s bloodguilt against the Gibeonites, Rizpah faithfully guarded their bodies. Her mourning moved David to give Saul’s family an honorable burial (2 Samuel 3:7; 21:8–14).
The two Mephibosheths
Two members of Saul’s family had the name Mephibosheth:
- Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan: He was Saul’s grandson and was disabled in both feet. David protected him because of his covenant with Jonathan and gave him a permanent place at the king’s table. He is called Merib-baal in Chronicles (2 Samuel 4:4; 9:1–13; 1 Chronicles 8:34).
- Mephibosheth, son of Saul and Rizpah: He was one of the seven descendants of Saul handed over to the Gibeonites because Saul had attempted to destroy them. He was Jonathan’s half-brother, not Jonathan’s son (2 Samuel 21:1–9).
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